Theft preventing device



ug. l1, 1931. F. Eg BEACH ET AL 1,818,668

THEFT PREVENTINWDEVIGE Filed Aug. 9, 1928 2 mm-sheet 1 THEFT PREVENTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 9. 51928 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED STATES FREDERICK 1:. BEACH 4AND EDGAR e. PETERsEN, or CHlICAG'O, ILLlNoIs, AssilGlfTO-ns To FINES -WINTERFRCNT CoMrANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION@ DELAWARE PATENT oFFulves THEFT PnEvEN'riNe lmavICn Application med August 9, 192s. serial No. 298,499.

The present invention relates to theft preventing devices, and is particularly vconcerned with locking devices for preventing theft of spare Wheels and tires. s

5 The invention is ofparticular importance with regard to wheels of the type having no demountable rims, so that the tire must be deflated before the removal of the casing, but the device may alsoV be employed Wherever it is desired `to lock a Wheel to a support and to prevent' access to the valvey carried by the tube.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved spare Wheel lock,

which is adapted to prevent removal of either the Wheel or ythe tire casing and tube carried by the Wheel. Y, l

' Another Objectis the revision of a Atire lock of the class described), which is adapted 20 to prevent. access Vto :the tire valve, thereby eliminating any tampering Withthe valve, 'which might permit unauthorized persons to reduce the vair pressure below the proper amount.

Another objectfis the v'provision of a tire lockadapted toprevent removal of the tire casing and'tube from the Wheel, except by puncturing or otherwise injuring the casing and tube. 's

Another object is the provision of a spare Wheel locking device adapted both to lock the Wheel toa carrier or other support and .to preventA removal of the tire from the Wheel.

Another object is the provision ofv a simple and effective spare Wheel and tire lock, which comprises a novel assembly of a minimum of necessary parts, and Which is economically manufactured and assembled.

' 40 .Other objects andadvantagesof the'invention Will be apparent from the followingl description and from the laccompanying drawings, .in which similar Charactersl of Y.reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings, of which thereare two sheets; i l' f Fig. 1 isan elevational View of a Wheel and tire equipped Vwith our theft preventing device 5 a `Fig. 2 is a sectional View t-aken'on line y' 2-2 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows; f

Fig. 3 is an elevational jview of the auxiliary device or arm for preventing accesszto the valve stem; f

Fig.` 4L is a sectional view taken on theline 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on-theline 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is asectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5. v

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 10 indicates the theft preventing device in its entirety, the device being shown in connection With a spare Wheel 11, a Wheel supporting member 12, and a tire consisting'of ya easing 13,-and tube 14. v s, i

Although the present device is illustrated with' a conventional spare Wheel' carrier f12,

We desire it to be understood that the use'of the inventiony is not limited to sparelwheel's, and ,the device may also be applied, if `desirable, to any aXl'eor other support upon which a Wheel. may be carried. `The invention'is'of particular importance When used in conjunction With spare Wheels and pneumatic tires.

Referring to Fig. 2,15 indicates aportion of a vehicle, which is provided .with a spare Wheel carrier 12, rivetedor otherwise permanently secured` thereto by means kof the attaching flange 16. The sparewheel carrier 12 is provided With a substantially Hat annular flange 17, simulatingthe attaching flange of a hub carried by the ,axle Aof the vehicle, andv having a plurality of'outwardly 'projectingstuds 18 located toregister with apertures 19 in the hub'20 ofthe wheel 11. The Wheel is customarily applied to the carrier 12 by passing a plurality .of the studs 18 through the apertures '.19 .andsecuring the Wheel by a plurality of nuts '21, and according to the present invention the theftpreventing device 10 is intended to replace one ofthe nuts 21.

The Wheel 11 may consist of thehu-b y20,

" the rim 22 and means for-connectingthe-hub and rim, comprising inthe present yillustration'a plurality of spokes 23. AAnvfofrni of spokes'may be employed, andthe presentgllone of the studs l18, and has a laterally prolustration merely shows one embodiment of a form in present use.

The rim 22 comprises a channelled annular metal member having outwardly extending annulai' flanges 24 and 25 for the purpose of retaining the casing 13 upon the rim, and in the present embodiment the rim 22 is also provided with a medially located inwardly extending channel 2G, formed by the radially extending flanges 27 and 28 and the baseflange 29. The channelled construction of the wheel 11 forms no part of the present invention, except in so far as the elements of this construction cooperate with the present device. i

f The retaining portions 30 of the casing 13 may be .moved into the channel 26 for the purpose of facilitating removal of the casing, but in order to remove the casing oi tube, it is ordinarily necessary to deflate the tube by means of a valve 31 since the casing is tensioned tightly about the rim 22 whenever the tube 14 is filled with air under pressure.

The present invention is not necessarily limited to rims having the channelled construction illustrated, but is of universal application to rims which prevent the removal of the tire Without defiating the same. The rim 22 is provided with the usual aperture,

vpermitting the valve stem 31 to project radially inward from the rim between the spokes 23.

Thev theft preventing device 10 includes an auxiliary member 32, which is carried by jecting arm 33 for preventing access to the The auxiliary member 32 bore v35`adapted to embrace the valve stem 31. In order to locate thev bore 35 centrally of the rim 22, the arm 33 is provided with an offset at 36 and the outer end 37 is enlarged to provide a member of sufficient size to receive any commercial valve stem. .TheV bore 35 may be provided with a frusto-conical outlet 38 for the purpose of guiding the 50' valve stem 31 into the bore, and to provide room for the nut used to secure the valve stem in the rim 22.

The valve stem embracing member 37 is also preferably, but not necessarily, provided with a pair of longitudinally projecting lugs 73 and 74, forming shoulders 75 and 76 for .engagement upon the opposite sides of the rim portions 27 and 28. The shoulders 75 and 76 are adapted to prevent lateral move- 'ment of the arm 33 out of the rim 22, but the same result may be accomplished if desired by the engagement of the valve stem 31 V` with the inside of thebore 35. rlhe lugs 7 3 --and `74 provide additional means for supporting the arms without the possibility of damaging the valve stem 31.

The arm 33 may be made substantially fiat from the point 36 to a socket 39 carried by its inner endrfor the purpose of permitting the location of the auxiliary member between the spokes 23, where the space is limited. As the valve stem 31 projects radially from the rim 22 and the studs 18 are not located at the exact center of the wheel 11, the enlarged poition 37 of the aim 33 extends radially, and the arm is bent at 40 intermediate its ends to extend inA a proper direction to engage about the stud 18. The inner'end of the arm 33 is provided with a socket 39, which may be formed by an outwardly projecting wall 41, projecting at substantially right angles to the plane ofthe fiat portion 42, and the socket 39 is preferably of substantially oblong form, tapering slightly toward one end 42 in order to insure the correct application of a locking device indicated in its entirety at 43.

The auxiliary arm 33 is adapted to be retained upon the stud 18 in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by a threaded member or nut 44. The nut 44 comprises a metal member, preferably formed of hardened steel having an internally threaded bore 38, which is complementary to the stud 18, and the nut 44 is provided with a non-circular end 46 to facilitate the application of a wrench or other tool in threading the nut home upon the stud 13. The nut 44 is also provided with a circumferentially extending groove 47, forming` an annular shoulder 48, which extends completely about the nut for engagement, in any position of the nut, with a plate 49 carried by a key-actuated device 50.

The theft preventing device is also provided with means for preventing access to the nut 44, comprising a casing 51 and a keyactuated device 50 for securing said casing in position, enclosing said nut. The casing 51 comprises a cast metal member having a flat outer face 52 of4 substantially the same shape as the oblong tapering socket 39. The lateral walls 53 of the casing 51 extend at substantially right angles to the flat outerV face 52,

and the casing51 is adapted to be slidably` received within the socket 39, preventing the insertion of prying tools or the like between the casing 51 and the auxiliary arm 33. The walls 41 which formthe socket 39 are preferably of substantial height in order that they u may slidably guide the casing 51, and so that the casing 51 cannot be removed from the socket 39 by the use of blows or force applied to the outer exposed portions of the casing.

Any force applied laterally to the casing willfm only cause the casing to bind within the socket 39 and more firmly secure the casing in its socket without bringing any substantial breaking force into play vupon the plate 49.

The casing 51 is provided with a pair of j.

"substantially"paranifbres5a alla saith@ bores,communicating by* the "slot 56fextending through the intervening wall Vorpartltion 57. Thebore 55 is adapted-tol slidably receive venting' rattling, comprising ay springr 58.

The spring 58"preferablyconsists of a` spiral helixof resilient wire having its outermost turns 59? in frictional engagement with the wallsl off the bore w55 to retain this spring within said bore. The turns 6() of lesser diameter are adapted to engage the relatively narrow annular surface 61, comprising the end of the nut 44, permitting the stud 18 to project through the nut, if necessary.

The bore 54 is provided with a small counterbore 62, which may communicate with a frusto-conical surface 63, leading to the outer face 52 of the casing. The counterbore 62 is of no larger size than is necessary to permit access to the key slot 64 by means of the key, and the locking device or tumbler barrel 50 is thus completely enclosed, except the key plate 65. The key plate 65 may have a slightly concave surface 66 adjacent the key hole 64 to facilitate the insertion of a key. The tumbler barrel 50 comprises a substantially cylindrical member of the conventional construction,

diagrammatically illustrated in Fig, 6, having a cylindrical outer casing 67, which may be cut away as at 68 to an amount equal to the thickness of the locking plate 49. The tumbler barrel 50 rotatably supports the locking plate 49, having a substantially circular outer edge 69, and having a laterally projecting portion 70. The laterally projecting portion 70 may be provided with an outer edge 71, curved slightly to remove the outer corners and the projecting portion 70 is of sufficient length to extend from the tumbler barbehind the shoulder 48. The bore 54 is also provided with an enlargement 72, comprising a slot in the bore communicating with the slot 56 and of sufficient size to permit the locking plate 49 to swing to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5.y The locking plate 49 is preferably provided with a pair of apertures 77 and 78, adapted to receive projecting pins 79 carried by the tumbler barrel mechanism, and the plate may be secured in place by a screw bolt 80 passing through the locking u plate 49 and threaded into a part carried by the tumbler barrel mechanism. k'The screw centerpunch or other pointed instrument into the plate adjacent the screw bolt 80, forming a depression 81 and causing the metal of the plate to interlock with the kerf 82.v The tumbler barrel 50 may also be secured against rotation and removal by likewise driving a i linl a may-actuatedl lo'ck casing. f

sharp center-punch into the juncture between the tumbler barrel casing 67 and the bore 54 as at 83, slightly deforming the wall of the f Plate 49 will then retain casing51 upon'the rel 50 through the slot 56, into the slot 47 "firm engagement'with shoulder 48,'and preremoved.

by a'tire lupon 'said Wheel. bolt 8O may be secured by driving a sharp u valvestem is adapted to be locked in place bore'a'nd'the tumbler barrel, an'd'causi'ng a slightspur to project into the tumbler barrel casing67from the bo're54.A y Y The' present locking device is applied and operated las follows: 1

The Wheel ymay be placed upon asupporti'ngvstud 18 with the stud projecting through one of the apertures19 of thewheel, and the auxiliary armv33 may be placed with its'bore '35 about the' valve stem'31, the shoulders 76 fr and 7 5 engaging opposite'sides of parts on the.

rim 22.L Asthe arm 33 is provided with a Vrelatively flatpor'tion'42, this portion per'- m'its the insertion of thearm between the spokes 23 to embrace the'valve stem 31,' after '8 which the socket 39 maybemoveddown beu tweenfadja'cent spokes 2 3'to be received upon a stud 18. If necessary, the arm'33 may be put in place before the Wheel is placed upon stud 18. The arm 33 and Wheel are then secured in Yplace'by threadingnut 44 tightly u upon stud 18, and the nut 44 maybe enclosed by placing casing 51 over the nut `in the socket39. The locking `plate 49 yshould then be inlthe dotted line positionk of Fig. 5, andy as the' cas`ing'51 is slidably inserted in the socket 39, spring-58 will be compressed by engagement between the bottom of bore 55 'and the end 61-of nut 44.`

The 'tumbler `barrel 50 is'v preferablyv of the type from which lthe key cannotbe removed unlessthe locking plate 49 is in locked position; thatis, the full 'line position 'of Fig.

5, thereby insur'ingrthe locking of the device sincer the key cannot be removed unless the deviceis locked. rlhe operator may thenturn 'the' key counterclockwise'in Fig. 3, rotating locking plate 49 'clockwise in Fig; 5 from the dotted 'line' position to the vposition shown in fulllines, where plate 49 'is engagedin'slot 47.9

'lon

nut 44, the spring 58 Vmaintaining plate 49in venting any rattling'.l The'key may then 'be The device `i may be unlocked by 'inno serting the key, turning the plate '491 to the dotte'dline position, removinglock casing 51 and`nut'44, 'after which the arm' 33 'may A by a special nut, which may be substituted for one of the usual nuts-employed inA ysecuring the wheel either to its axle o r spare wheel-55125 support,`and`this nut is'protected' against unauthorized 'removal Vby enclosing the same The lock r casing 'itself is protectedv againstM removalby the outwardly projectingfwall'hac of a socket adapted to receive the base of the lock casing, and adapted to prevent the insertion of prying tools for removing the lock casing. If desired, the auxiliary arm may be extended to embrace more than one of the supporting studs 18, in which case it is only necessary to lock one stud and cover the other by means of said arm.

While we have illustrated a preferred em-` bodiment of our invention, many modifications may be made `without departing from the spirit of the invention, and we do not wish to be limited to the precise detailsy of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of all changes Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. In a tire lock, the combination of a support with a wheel and pneumatic tire carried by said support, an auxiliary member carried by said support and having an arm embracing the valve stem of said tire, and locking means for securing said arm upon said support, said arm having shoulders adjacent said valve stem for engaging oppositely disposed shoulders upon a wheel part.

2. In a theft preventing device, the combination of a stud, with a wheel and tire carj ried by said wheel, said stud passing through said Wheel, an auxiliary member carried by said stud and having a radially extending arm embracing the valve stem of said tire, a nut for securing said auxiliary member to said stud, a casing for preventing access to said nut and key actuated means for locking said casing in position about said nut.

3. In a theft preventing device, the combination of a stud, with a wheel and tire carried by said wheel, said stud passing through said wheel, an auxiliary member carried by said stud and having a radially extending arm embracing the valve stem ofk said tire, a nut for securing said auxiliary member to said stud, a casing for preventing access to said nut and key actuated means for locking said casing in position about said nut, said arm having a socket for receiving said casing.

4. In a theft preventing device, a valve stem lock comprising a metal arm having a socket for receiving a valve stem, said arm having a laterally projecting flattened and offset portion for extending between the spokes of a Wire wheel and for engaging a hub plate, said arm having an aperture for a carrier bolt and having a socket about said aperture for slidably receiving a locking device.

5. Ina theft preventing device, a valve stem lock comprising a metal arm having a socket for receiving a valve stem, said arm having a laterally projecting flattened and offset portion for extending between the In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names this 4th day of August, 1928.

FREDERICK E. BEACH. EDGAR G. PETERSEN. 

